How to Become an Electrician
Looking for a stable career that will stand the test of time and in which every day is different? Do you work well with your hands and have excellent problem-solving skills? Becoming an electrician might be the ideal profession for you.
If you’re interested in how to become an electrician keep reading to learn all you need to start along this career path.
What Is an Electrician?
Electricians are tradespeople who are in charge of planning, installing, and keeping electrical systems up to date in houses, shops, and offices, in fact pretty much every kind of construction setting. Without them, we wouldn’t have access to our lighting systems, power supplies, appliances, internet connections, and much more.
These professionals work in a variety of settings, both indoors and outdoors. For this reason, to take on this job you must be physically capable of standing for long periods as well as kneeling in small or narrow spaces.
In this role, you can be employed in construction teams or you might have your own business. You’ll usually perform your job alone or with trainees once you are established as a mentor.
However, you’ll also need to collaborate with other professionals such as engineers, architects, or skilled installers to complete projects. Being an electrician is generally a full-time career. Because of the nature of this job, you might also be required to work overtime, as well as on evenings and weekends.
What Do Electricians Do?
If you’re looking for information on how to become an electrician, understand that your exact responsibilities will vary based on your experience level. However, most electricians perform the following:
- plan layouts for electrical wiring for new buildings
- install and maintain wiring, control, and lighting systems
- inspect, diagnose, and repair issues in electrical systems with a variety of tools
- read blueprints or technical diagrams
- collaborate with architects, contractors, and other construction workers
- record repairs and maintenance
- train apprentice electricians
- keep up to date with the national electric code (nec) and other industry regulations
How to Become an Electrician
If you’re an aspiring electrician, we bet you probably have many questions. Here are the answers to the most important:
How Long Is Electrician School?
To become an electrician, you’ll need at least a high school diploma. Then, you’ll either go straight into a 4 to 5-year apprenticeship program or you’ll need to:
- Attend a technical school where you’ll accrue credits your following apprenticeship years.
- Work as a construction worker to gain experience in the general sector.
- Complete a pre-apprenticeship certificate training (PACT) from the Home Builders Institute.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Electrician?
After your 4 or 5-year apprenticeship program, you’ll need to pass an exam to obtain your state electrician license. As regulations can vary according to the state, we suggest checking your specific requirements with the National Electrical Contractors Association or directly at your local board.
During electrician school, you’ll be considered an electrician apprentice, but once you finish the program and pass the test you’ll become a journeyman electrician, meaning that you’re able to perform full duties. With additional education and training, you can also become a master electrician, a position that oversees other electricians and requires more complex electrician and project management skills.
How Much Do Electricians Make?
An electrician’s salary ranges from $20.50 to $34.14 per hour on average. Consider, however, that your experience, industry, and location are important factors in determining your wage. For instance, an electrician apprentice salary sits at the lower end, a journeyman electrician salary lies on average at around $26.07, and a master electrician is at the top of the scale. Expect other differences between a commercial or residential electrician salary as well.
The top-paying industries for electricians in the U.S. are:
- natural gas distribution
- promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events
- professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
- monetary authorities-central bank
- scheduled air transportation
In terms of location, here are the states in which electricians are paid the most:
To find out how much electricians make an hour in your city, check out Monster’s Salary Calculator. Not only will you discover the median wage in any city of your choice, we’ll also show you the most in-demand skills to pursue in your industry.
How to Find Electrician Jobs
Once you complete all the steps for how to become an electrician, the fun begins: getting out there to secure a job. Working on your resume is the essential first step. You don’t need to spend hours on it, just follow a few simple resume writing tips, including:
- Pick a simple layout, like the one in our sample electrician resume, with clear paragraphs, bullet points, and bold text to highlight your skills.
- Always adapt your resume to the specific role and company you’re applying to. To do so, take the job posting, look for the industry keywords the company wants and add them to your resume if relevant to your experience.
Finally, prepare a cover letter to let recruiters get to know you better. In this document, you can add more details about your past achievements and future goals.
Where Does an Electrician Work?
An electrician’s job setting can vary a lot since electrical work is needed everywhere: indoors, outdoors, as well as in commercial or residential projects, and factories. Some of the industries with the highest levels of employment for electricians include:
- building equipment contractors
- employment services
- local government
- utility system construction
- nonresidential building construction
Regarding the states with the highest employment level, we suggest looking in:
Curious about the best U.S. metro areas by the number of electrician jobs? Check out:
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